Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Alice in Wonderland at Ridgeway Community School

    Prairie Fire Children's Theater came to Ridgeway Community School and worked with the children for five days and they put on Alice in Wonderland.  It was full of song and dance and lots of frolicking about. 

 The dodo bird and two other birds

The playing cards




Alice talking to the white rabbit.





Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Sunrise How I Love to See You


Saturday morning, April 26, 2019, 6:00am  It was a magnificent sight and lit up the whole sky.  The sunrise is coming earlier and earlier to bring us more and more light.  I breathe it in.




These three are on the morning of April 10, 2019 around 6:18am.


April 3, 2019 on the ridge near Witoka, Minnesota at about 6:45am. Morning time, it is a good time of day.




Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Spring Holds a Promise of Warmth






















The earliest of flowers are beginning to bloom.  These cheerful little blue beauties grow close to the ground.

The owner of these tulips said he got these a couple of years ago when he was in Amsterdam.  Earlier in the day, they had been open up wide.  At this time of the day, the sky was overcast.  They even survived the snow/ice storm of the previous week.





















Last year's leaves won't stop this tiny ones from showing their color.






















Miniature yellow crocuses.  Hmm, anyone know when the pink flowers are?





















Purple crocus.








































Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Be Kind

This is a four part heart created by 8 students of various ages, Kindergarten through 5th Grade in Homeroom.  We had just finished this one, and Naser was holding it in place.  He was very pleased with the colorful out come!

At Ridgeway Community School, homeroom is an afternoon every couple of months that we come together as families--all siblings in a family or individual students of mixed age levels.  Our Kindergarten through 5th graders all work together on a project or learn something about our theme. Our theme of Kindness continues for this year.  Each homeroom group created two hearts in four parts each.  Various combinations of children and adults worked together to create patterns and then color in the pattern.  They were very careful and considerate. The idea was originally created by Cassie Stephen's, a generous art teacher in Tennessee. Here are some photos from Mrs. Johnson's group working together.

    Sawyer and J.J. working together.                                                           

 Willa and Johanna creating together with Malia and Delaney looking on.  Mrs. Johnson was coloring too.  In the background of this photo with Mrs. Johnson, you can see Cassie Stephen's post, that has a video tutorial to help everyone learn how to do this fun collaborative art activity.                                                                                                                            


Delaney and Elan working patterns.

 Naser and Abdullah working together.


    Malia and Payton beginning.
 Celia and Marcus making patterns.


 Malia and Payton's part of the heart complete.

Malia and Delaney with Elan in back.  Great working together.




About a week later, I got them all up on the front bulletin board. The top image is the whole mural. The lower picture has the 'D'  and two hearts missing, but it's a bit clearer in detail. A total of 12 hearts and 6 letters spelling "Be Kind."  A big thanks to Cassie Stephen's for her wonderful sharing of this art activity.  I was lots of fun!


You may be interested in another Kindness activity that we worked on earlier this year.


"Be Kind," that is a good reminder for all of us.





Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Vision Board

At the beginning of the new year, its a good time to assess how is life going along and what do I need to change.  Some people do it in the form of New Year's resolutions, others with Chinese New Year, others with making of a Vision Board, others with dancing in their intentions or making a fire.

I collect images from magazines and old calendars and stuff that I find in junk stores.  I have lots of things.  This was a good way to clear some things and recycle the images that are no longer important to me.  I had not made a Vision Board in a long time.  It was fun to begin.

What is collage anyway?  Here's an entry when I was creating Soul Collage cards to give you an idea about collage.

Here's the last vision board that I created.  I like how the colors move around the frame.  I pinned up a big flower that I painted at a Barefoot Bliss Weekend that I attended in Michigan. 

I brought the frame down off the wall and took everything off.  It was a little sad to do--I wondered if I could make another one that I liked.  Would it be as good?  Or would it be junk?  Oh--there go those racing thoughts.  I had to tell myself, "Cancel, Clear," and I started over.  "I'm going to make it.  It will be what is to come next.  No judgement about good, better best."



I have a few projects that I'm thinking about.  I put all of these beautiful fabrics in a pile to use.


More images.  I cut some with the scissors and some I cut with the paper cutter.  I love that tool.


Here's the final board for 2019.  Dance, movement, art, nature, love of life, change, people.           Life as Art.  It is good.  I kept the saying above the board, "I am strong and powerful and speak my truth with clarity."  I like this new board.  It speaks to me of hope!









Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Healing Through Time Part II

Please note: This post has some graphic images.  No images with blood are posted.

I broke my elbow in a biking accident last summer.  The very blessed news is that I didn't get run over by a car as I sat on the edge of the road. 

I got to Urgent Care that afternoon of June 7, 2018 and the next day, I had a visit with my surgeon  and scheduled surgery for Monday.  My friend, Kim Hammer, gave me some suggestions  about questions to ask my surgeon about how he would care for me.  Asking if he would do the same kind of surgery on a 30 year old male as a woman of my age.
Answer: "Yes, exactly the same." Asking if I will have full mobility of my elbow? Answer: "Yes." Asking how long all the healing would take. Answer: "It will take time."  No definitive answer.


Me faking a smile post surgery with flowers from Kendra. The flowers do make me smile. During this time, I couldn't comb my hair, bend my arm, drive a car, ride a bike, paddle a kayak.  I could take walks, hang out, and listen to audio books.  Lots of that happened.  Bob brushed and braided my hair.  I needed to wear a plastic sleeve when I showered and Bob had to help me put that on.  I had to learn to ask for lots of help.  For an independent person, that was a tall order.  I also had lots of pain.  I used the medicines prescribed, but they made my stomach hurt.  I moved off them quickly and went to Ibuprofen and a homeopathic remedy called arnica.

The lucky part of the summer was that I had many weddings and gathering scheduled.  That got me out and about and helped my mood stay happy!

My BFF, Jenny got married to Steve on June 19, 2018 at the Children's Museum in in Madison, Wisconsin. My good friend, Lyn helped me get there by giving me a ride.


 June 26, 2018 Partial cast on

 June 27, Partial cast off

June 27, 2018 My hand very puffy from lack of use.  



July 1, 2018, Amaliya and Deva came to visit and cheer me on!

 July 2018, Grand Marias Art Festival.  Karen, Lyn, Inge and I painting on the grand mural.



 Compression tape to help bring the inflammation down.


 River walks to cheer my spirit.


July 7, 2018, Heather and Mark's wedding reception.

In early July, I began orthopedic therapy.  It hurt and it helped.  I began many repetitions of carrying a heavy suitcase and bending my arm up toward my shoulder.  It would be many months before I could touch my shoulder.



Something is not healing correctly.  Hmmmm, not so good.


 Joann, Tracy, and I

 Jamie and Jodi
Women's cabin weekend, July 30, 2018 to celebrate Jamie's 60th birth year!



Lori, my sister, put on a beautiful shower for her daughter Jen, and new son, Austin. August 11, 2018.


 Little vases of summer flowers from the yard.

2nd surgery to clean up the infection called pseudomonas, August 16, 2016.  Had to keep it dry once again.  This time the incision did heal within one week.  No more infection!  Hallelujah!!!!


 August 29, 2018. School starts in a couple of days.  

First Kindergarten art class, September 7, 2018.  The beginning of a year of 6 art classes back to back on Mondays and Fridays.  200 students per week.  Woosh.  Here  we go!!!








September 9, 2018, beginning to look a little better.  It is amazing how old and tired a person feels when injured.



 September 15, 2018, Farmer's Market Flowers.  Oh what a delight.

September 21, 2018, Amaliya and I loving our "Minnesota" sweatshirt and "She is Fierce" t-shirt!


 Dancing in the streets of Winona, September 22, 2018


 Bob and I heading to the Renaissance Fair to meet up with Amaliya, September 29, 2018.


 Amaliya and I celebrating Jen and Austin's wedding. October 6, 2018.

 Bob and I at Sioux Falls Park, October 7, 2018.


Grandparent's and Special Person Day,October 12, 2018 in the Art Room with Marcus and Grandpa Dave and Brenden.

 Halloween 2018, Kylie and her brother, Lane.


 October River Walk feeling stronger.


 Wang Ping and making peace flags with Ana at the Winona Public Library, Nov 10, 2018.
 Life Source event with Amaliya, Melony and Bob and I, November 17, 2018.


 Bob and I on a hike, November 23, day after Thanksgiving for free State Park Day.


 Art Room, November 26, 2018





My Birthday Weekend with Amaliya, Kim, Inge, Lyn, Kathy.  Wow, what a treat.  December 8-9, 2018.

 Winter Concert 2018, Wow!


 December 16, 2018. Filled with wonder.


 First Graders stringing popcorn and cranberries for the birds.


 December elf looking to find good children every where.

 Christmas stolen arrived on December 21, the day that I touched my shoulder!

 Playing with Amaliya and Bob for a holiday joy! Minnihaha Falls, Holidazzle, cookie making!









 Christmas Eve with Bob's Dad's Birthday!  Happy Day!!!

 I won at Mexican Trains.  Bob and I playing on Christmas evening!

Looking at the lovely lights on the river in La Crosse, Wisconsin


 Cozy with two cuties, Norris and Tara.

 June and Becca.  June finished her dissertation!  Wonderful to celebrate her on New Year's Eve.




New Year's Day with friendship, healing, and love.  Happy 2019.



Here is another post about bringing peace to healing pain that may be interesting.

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